Rescuing Feudalism

Rescuing Feudalism / Fernando Damaso
Posted on September 30, 2013

When the "update of the model" was announced a few years ago, it was
seen by many as a possible though certainly very limited way to slowly
stimulate the country's stalled economy. The first disappointment came
with an absurd list of medieval-era professions in which self-employed
workers were allowed to engage. The most optimistic observers felt this
was only the beginning and that more options would be added later. Since
nothing was said about regulating the exercise of these professions, it
was thought that more information would be forthcoming. Some even more
optimistic observers dreamed that authorization would later be extended
to small and medium-sized businesses.

After a few years and the addition of only a few more medieval-era
professions, regulations and stipulations began to be established. By
then even some less bright citizens began to realize that the "update"
was nothing more than a shell game, a stalling tactic not unlike that of
"blind man's bluff."

Let us remember that slavery was replaced with feudalism, which
represented an advance in economic productivity. It later gave way to
capitalism, which constituted an even greater advancement by introducing
new means and methods of production. Karl Marx, whose work is considered
the pillar of socialism and communism, argued that socialism would be
superior to capitalism and would advance the engines of productivity
even further, fulfilling the ever growing needs of humanity until true
communism was ultimately achieved. Lenin later altered and co-opted this
theory to make it conform to circumstances in Russia and provide it with
a theoretical and allegedly scientific basis. What later came of all
this theory and practice is all too well-known.

Nevertheless, it makes no sense for Cuban authorities, who call
themselves socialists, to impose medieval methodologies and practices on
self-employed workers. To expect artisan craftsmen to be able to supply
the private marketplace in the 21st century without also allowing small
and medium-sized business access to industrial production constitutes a
mistake of major proportions, or at the very least a serious
misunderstanding of how material goods are produced in today's world.

Cuba and Cubans are familiar with capitalism with all its pluses and
minuses, though more so with the former than the latter. We are familiar
with socialism too, though in this case with more of its minuses than
pluses. Trying to impose medieval methodologies and practices on the
output of the self-employed (they dare not call them private sector
workers) is a ridiculous political and economic policy. Those who think
and act in this way are doing nothing more than demonstrating their by
now well-known inability to resolve Cuba's problems.

26 September 2013

Source: "Rescuing Feudalism / Fernando Damaso | Translating Cuba" -
http://translatingcuba.com/rescuing-feudalism-fernando-damaso/